STILIYAN Petrov insisted the fight for a top-four spot would be waged until the bitter end after Villa’s gutsy display at Old Trafford served notice of a side playing with renewed confidence.

Villa’s 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford sentenced them to a fourth successive league defeat and left them trailing Arsenal by six points with a far inferior goal difference.

They now only lead David Moyes’ in-form Everton by a single point ahead of Sunday’s clash at Villa Park.

Petrov, though, understandably deflated by United’s late winner, saw only positives in a performance which took an admittedly under-strength United team to the brink of a third successive league loss.

“We bounced back and I think the attitude of the players was excellent,” he said with reference to the 5-0 defeat at Anfield a fortnight ago.

“We played well and didn’t deserve to lose. The top four is still alive for us. We are going to fight until the end.

“A lot of people expected us to bounce back after that 5-0 defeat but I don’t think many expected a performance like that.

“Manchester United are fighting to be champions. We are fighting to be in the top four but we definitely matched them man for man.

“We were unlucky not to take something out of the game and we will keep going.

“We have worked so hard all season we’re not just going to let it go easily.”

Villa’s lifeline is in Arsenal’s fixture list that sees them having to play the top three.

Petrov said: “Arsenal have a hard schedule. About four games ago we were minutes away from going eight points clear. Now we are six points the other way. We lost a couple of games in a row, Arsenal can do the same. They still have Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea to play.

“We now have to win as many of our remaining games as possible and we will see what happens. It’s up to us.”